Reader's view: Everyone should agree on Proposal 2

Midland Daily News

Published
6:50 am EDT, Tuesday, October 2, 2018

To the editor:

A blue wave appears to be coming. It may well be a tsunami. Because of global warming, citizens from Houston, to Boulder, to Houghton, to Wilmington have realized they need flood insurance in places where they never needed it before. Similarly, Republicans should realize that Proposal 2, which will end partisan gerrymandering in Michigan, is the big blue wave insurance they need.

A fair redistricting process, as Proposal 2 details as an amendment to the Michigan Constitution, will guarantee that when power in Lansing swings in a year ending in zero, it will not shut out the losing party for a decade. Proposal 2 will ensure that the will of the people will be heard at the ballot box in every election. If Proposal 2 fails and Democrats happen to take control of state government, they can be expected draw gerrymandered political district maps that will create for themselves — the same unfair partisan advantage that Republicans currently have. And for another decade we will have a mirror image form of dysfunctional government.

The opening declaration in Michigan’s constitution is “All political power is inherent in the people.” The redistricting process needs to be non-partisan and fair to make our Constitution true. Voters of all political persuasions will be voting in their best interest, for more responsive and less polarized government, when they vote yes on Proposal 2.